Repainted front Bumper?

[jamakr4]

I have Andes Grey and in this picture you can clearly tell a difference between the bumper and the rest of the car. I bought the car 2nd hand accident free with 5k kms and didn't really noticed it untill recently. Anyone with this color has the same difference? In reality the difference isn't that bad (picture has just perfect light to see it).

 

[siteguru]

Are you referring to the plastic "splitter" below the numberplate, which covers the whole lower-front of the car? Or the grey "scoops" either side of the numberplate?

 

[jamakr4]

Are you referring to the plastic "splitter" below the numberplate, which covers the whole lower-front of the car? Or the grey "scoops" either side of the numberplate?

The section between bumper and hood.

 

[gary333]

It’s normal for bumpers to have slightly different colours as they aren’t usually painted at the same time, and even when they are the material still shows differences. Yours does look quite a bit off from a colour match. How well does the rear bumper match the car? It might have had a minor bump or scrape repaired. You’d need paint a depth detector to check (unless it’s clear it’s been resprayed). Try checking for overspray marks on plastic, under arches etc.

 

[jamakr4]

It’s normal for bumpers to have slightly different colours as they aren’t usually painted at the same time, and even when they are the material still shows differences. Yours does look quite a bit off from a colour match. How well does the rear bumper match the car? It might have had a minor bump or scrape repaired. You’d need paint a depth detector to check (unless it’s clear it’s been resprayed). Try checking for overspray marks on plastic, under arches etc.

I checked for any signs of damage or indications that the bumper had been removed in the past (like broken clips, weird gaps, and so on) but found nothing. If the bumper has been repainted, they did a good job of hiding it or did a full respray. I know that silver and these darker gray colors are harder to match compared to, for example, a white paint job. You only really see it if you know it's there, and in most photos it isn't noticeable at all, so I think it really is a fabrication tolerance. However, checking the rear bumper is indeed a good idea; I will do so tomorrow.

 

[EvTek23]

It's also sometimes noticeable because of the orientation of the bumper when it was sprayed, often on a jig with the normal front facing surface when on the car, facing upwards for production reasons. (Better paint coverage or efficiency of spraying). This means that especially with metallic paints they can look different shades or colours because of the orientation of the metallic flakes in the paint.
Doors, bonnet and the rear hatch will be fitted and lowered to their normal close positions to stop the effect you can see.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

My orange one has got a few stone chips , the plastic bit has a black undercoat/ background whilst the metal bonnet has a light grey basecoat. I haven't noticed too much of a difference in the final coat shading between the two surfaces . Maybe , with the metallic finish it might be more obvious?

 

[mg4mc]

The whole bumper could have been replaced hence no broken clips. Other MG4's in that colour I have seen have not been like that (I was thinking of buying one).

 

[jamakr4]

The whole bumper could have been replaced hence no broken clips. Other MG4's in that colour I have seen have not been like that (I was thinking of buying one).

Could be.. but if the damage was that bad that the hole bumper had to be replaced there would be other signs I think.

 

[ReintjeWA]

I think the light just reflects differently between the bumper and bonnet, there are two pictures I have of my orange MG4 that look like the bumper is ever so slightly different from the rest of the car.

I’ve only ever noticed it in certain pictures with overhead lighting like this.

 

[MG Clive]

The bonnet and bumper sit at slightly different angles to each other, so I think it's probably as @ReintjeWA says, the light is reflecting slightly differently off both panels depending where you look at them from. What is the colour match like between the bumper and the wings @jamakr4 ?

 

[Lovemyev]

Slight colour differentials between metal panels and plastic moulded bumper covers, are not uncommon tbh.
I have spotted this on a lot of brand new cars.
It is more easy to spot on cars with two or three stage paint finishes like metallics or pearl colours.
Also when painting a single panel or bumper cover from edge to edge, the mismatch between the adjoining panel(s) is going to be much easier to detect.
E.G. - You have damage to your drivers door, then it is extremely likely that when the drivers door is painted, the colour will washed / blended into the front wing and the back door.
The colour difference is “lost” into the adjoining panels and your eyes are unable to adjust to this sight colour variation mid panel and therefore fooled.
Edge to edge single panel painting is always going to be easier to spot unless the paint mix is 100% spot on and if it not applied correctly.
Solid single stage colours are less challenging.
It is highly unlikely that the body panels and the bumper covers get painted at the same time, or even in the same location tbh.
If so, slight colour variations are going to be the thing I guess ?.

 

[jamakr4]

The bonnet and bumper sit at slightly different angles to each other, so I think it's probably as @ReintjeWA says, the light is reflecting slightly differently off both panels depending where you look at them from. What is the colour match like between the bumper and the wings @jamakr4 ?

It heavily depends on the angle & light, I got a lot of photos where it looks fine without any noticable difference.

 

[salty]

Slight colour differentials between metal panels and plastic moulded bumper covers, are not uncommon tbh.

Agree.

 

[EvTek23]

@jamakr4 this is my own Camden Grey (UK colour). This picture was taken shortly after I got the car in 2023. Light and angle of view show the differences, and for the reasons I mentioned in post #6 of this thread.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I can't see a difference in any of the photos, nor in my car in real life.

 

[salty]

I can't see a difference in any of the photos, nor in my car in real life.

Specsavers?

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Specsavers?

I've got my specs on, and I enlarged the pics before I commented.